1) Chinese consumers are increasingly seeking out cultural experiences and are willing to spend more on activities like the arts, gourmet food, and travel as a way to enrich their lives and display their "cultured lifestyle" on social media.
2) Brands that communicate their cultural values are more appealing to consumers who have a strong need for cultural elements in their entertainment and leisure.
3) While high-brow cultural spending was once confined to large cities, expenditures on cultural and artistic activities are also rising in lower-tier cities, showing this is a nationwide trend towards spending on arts and culture.
3. Foreword
New consumption trends, both on the macro and micro levels, are appearing, colliding, converging, or
even disappearing, at lightning speed and in real time. Marketers are working from a script that is
constantly being rewritten. Some of these changes can be comprehensive in scope, affecting and
altering many aspects of consumption. For some marketers, these changes will unlock new
opportunities and/or significant competitive advantages. For others, dealing with their impact will be a
major challenge. The goal of the Consumption Trends China series of reports has always been to provide
direction and be a springboard to inspire marketers to come up with new business models,
products/services and experiences to meet the needs of the evolving consumers.
This is the third year that MEC prepares this report and we have greatly improved our methodology to
identify, sort and analyze what trends will come into play in 2013. We started out this series of reports in
2011 based on observations by trend scouts, backed up by desk research. For 2012, we added
quantification by asking consumers to rank the trends in an online survey. In Consumption Trends China
2013, MEC and CIC, China‘s leading social business intelligence provider, have joined forces to provide a
more comprehensive view of the year ahead. CIC brings in IWOM (internet Word of Mouth) and social
media to the research, adding granularity and texture to the trends.
The emergence of social media is fast transforming our methods of understanding consumer behavior
and conducting market research, and IWOM monitoring and social media research are essential parts of
this change. The online world, with is liveliness, frankness and outspokenness, offers an additional route
to a better understanding of consumer opinion and market pulse. Within the scope of key trends, CIC
provides examples to illustrate the needs of consumers and the exemplifications of those needs in a
more vivid and true-to-life form via social media research.
5. Methodology
50+ trend scouts 1200 consumers
The data was The top 10 trends
from all over from 12 tier one to
collated and sifted were further
China reported on tier three cities
to arrive at 20 validated via desk
trends they saw ranked the trends
trends research
around them in an online survey
IWOM and social media Syndicated
databases on
Compilation of were monitored to add consumption &
report texture and granularity media habits were
data-mined to
validate the trends
7. Top 10 Consumption
Trends for 2013
Pay for
1 Safety Go
2 Micro
Culture
3 Consumption Spending
4 on the Young
Spectacular
5 Singles Charity is the
6 New Fashion
Emotional
7 Consumption Gray Hair
8 Craze
Super
9 3rd Party Crossover
10
Economy
8. Pay for
1 Safety
Safety is a big concern for consumers. After repeated food safety issues, shoddy
workmanship and fake products, consumers are willing to pay a premium for a sense of
safety in their consumption. More and more people are buying insurance; they buy
organic food albeit at a higher price; and posts on microblogs about road safety and food
safety soared. All these consumer behavior and concerns catapulted “Pay for Safety” to
the number one ranking trend for 2013.
9. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ Hezheng 55234175 (Wuhan, Hubei): The only way of boosting local demand is to make sure local products are safe. Cut out the toxic milk and the swill
oil retrieved from the gutters. Allow the public to consume safely, dare to consume and consume with greater confidence!
@ ViviAn brand-new beauty (Guangzhou, Guangdong): Product safety has become the biggest concern of consumers. My former classmate took this stuff
when she was pregnant, and when the baby was born she had no milk. Only found out when the baby was one month old, and then stopped taking it
immediately. And the manufacturer said it was the sole sponsor of the national team athletes! They really screwed people up!
@ Happy 365 (Shijiazhuang, Hebei): For the sake of safety, no matter how expensive imported infant formula is, (I) have to buy it.
10. In the past 5 years, Chinese consumers have become more interested in various kinds of
insurance and are more willing to “purchase” a sense of safety.
% Bought Property Insurance
14
13
12 12
10 10
9
8
6 6
4
2
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
%
14 Bought Motor Vehicle Insurance
12
10
9 9
8
7
6 6
5
4
2
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Data source: CMMS2008Spring~CMMS2012Sring
11. The number of tweets on the topics of ‘transport safety’ and ‘food safety’ showed a
general upward trend.
Number of tweets Microblog Buzz on “Food Safety”
10,000,000
8,000,000
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
0
Microblog Buzz on “Transport Safety”
Number of tweets
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
12. 1>A Bite of the Chemistry Periodic Table
Microblog Buzz on “A Bite of the Periodic Table”
Number of tweets
20,000 Time when “A Bite of
18,000 China” was aired
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
While everyone was talking about the delicious dishes in “A Bite of China”, food safety was also a major point of concern for
consumers. “A Bite of the Periodic Table” was a hot topic spawned by this concern. It referred to the gag ‘If you laid someone
out flat on the ground, you’d have a chemistry periodic table’. The discussion trends for this sarcastic comment on Sina Weibo
and Tencent Weibo peaked after the broadcast of “A Bite of China”.
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
13. 2> Throw it out of the Window
“www.zzcw.info” (throw it out of the window) is a website alerting
people to toxic food. It was created by Wu Heng, a graduate
student of Fudan University, together with 34 volunteers he
recruited on the internet. The website first went up in June 2011,
providing information on poisonous and harmful foodstuff reports
from all parts of China. With data going back to 2004, there were
more than 3000 entries. On May 3, 2012 the site actually crashed
temporarily because it was getting too much traffic.
The amount of attention the site has received shows how much
concern over food safety there is at the grass roots level and how
determined people are to reject and avoid harmful food.
Number of page views
7,000,000 Page Views of “ZZCW” website
5,962,002
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
262,717
0
2011 2nd half year 2012 1st half year
Data source:”ZCCW”
14. 2 Go Micro
The prefix ‘micro’ is a consumption buzzword that goes with a lot of things. For marketers,
it means more precise targeting of consumers in their advertising and promotional efforts.
For consumers, it means short versions of movies, books, narratives etc. It also means
having access to convenient and trouble-free purchase, at a lesser expense, at any time or
place. These fine-tuned, “micro” approaches are becoming a craze. They add convenience
to consumers’ lives and create new sales opportunities for marketers.
15. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ Kay_Luo (Shanghai): Prices are going up. This is an era of micro-consumption in all sectors. When people spend money it’s generally not for durable
quality which will last for 5 or 10 years. Rather than buying one 2000 yuan jacket which will last for 10 years, they tend to buy 10 jackets at 200 yuan, even
though they’ll only be able to wear each one for six months.
@ Goodman (Hangzhou, Zhejiang): Why do I like micro movies? Maybe it’s because I live in an age of micro--consumption. Even movie watching needs to
be finished in quick time! [Video: Haagen Dazs micro movie “Waxing and waning for love”] http://t.cn/zlvhdCP (Shared from @youku net)
@ GaoTim (Suzhou, Jiangsu): What times we live in, with all this technology! Before going to bed, with my mobile I casually logged on to Tmall. A couple
more casual key-presses, and using express payment where I didn’t need to enter my card number or provide authentication, I spent a few hundred yuan just
like that. It’s too easy to spend money. The key point is I don’t feel as if I am spending my own money when I use a credit card for online shopping. Even when
I get the bill I still feel confused as to which transaction I’m paying for.
16. 1> Micro-ads of 360Buy
Co-mention of MEN & 360Buy on Microblog Buzz
Number of tweets
7,000 6,201
6,000
Time when “MEN”
5,000 4,054 was aired
4,000
3,000
2,000
542 247
1,000 0 205 114
0
2011.9 2011.10 2011.11 2011.12 2012.01 2012.02 2012.03
In “MEN”, a popular TV series, there were numerous 360buy.com
content placements in the script and plot. Simultaneously,
purchase links of products shown in the TV series were placed in
360buy.com website. Fans of the characters in the series were
given a chance to imitate them or even outdo them.
Product placement is not uncommon, but by integrating the ads
smoothly, openly drawing them to consumers’ attention, and then
enabling consumers to proceed seamlessly to the final
consumption point, 360buy took the lead in this round of micro-
marketing. Online buzz also validated that consumers associated
360buy with this TV series.
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
17. 2> Many a Little Makes a Mickle
The emergence of rebate websites, such as “51fanli.com”, allows consumers
to buy goods at discount prices and then save again on top of that. The
amount of each rebate may be small, but since redemption can be deferred
for a time, regular online shoppers can eventually receive quite a tidy sum.
‘Many a little makes a mickle.’ The endless stream of rebate websites and the
participation of more and more businesses are making "rebate" a new trend.
The popularity of this term in online news and on the two major microblog
sites are rising rapidly.
Online buzz of “Rebate”
Number of tweets Microblog discussion Media discussion Number of news
1,400,000 10,000
1,200,000
8,000
1,000,000
800,000 6,000
600,000 4,000
400,000
2,000
200,000
0 0
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
18. 3> Quick and Easy Payment
CNNIC research shows that payment by mobile phones are
developing at lightning speed. By the end of June 2012, netizens
paying via mobile phone have already reached 44.4 million,
representing a 46% increase over the end of 2011.
Netizens paying via mobile phone
Million
50
44
40
30
30
20
10
-0
2011.12 2012.6
At the same time, the phone “swipe card" era is upon us. China
Mobile plans to install 1 million RF-POS readers in stores and in
campuses, subways and public transport.
Data source: CNNIC The 30th Survey Report
19. 3 Culture
Consumption
Much of what used to be high-brow culture is now more accessible to the general public,
enriching their lives. Chinese consumers have a strong need for more cultural flavor in
their entertainment and leisure activities. They like the arts, gourmet food and travelling.
And they are also eager to show off their “cultured life” on social media platforms. When
brands go beyond products and services to communicate their values and cultures, they
are more appealing to consumers.
20. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ Little Lin, C major (Guangzhou, Guangdong): After soaking up the atmosphere of Beijing for 3 years, I’ve become more and more artistic. The thing
about the capital I couldn’t do without now is the abundance of cultural activities. Another play starts tomorrow, check out #Bust-up Maestro#. I watch his
cross talk and plays. I suppose I’m quite a @caoyunjin fan.
@ Drifting all the way (Changchun, Jilin): In my life as a coffee shop rambler in this city, trying the taste of all the different coffees and sampling the
atmosphere of the different cafes is quite time-consuming. Today it started raining at nightfall, and as I sat listening to the rain in a coffee bar called “Desert
Island” with an Americano in my hand, I went into a daze. Suddenly the serenity and detachment seemed wonderful to me.
@ G Mirage (Foshan, Guangdong): Indeed. When I go travelling, feasting my eyes on beautiful scenery is no longer enough for me. Instead, I want to experience
and understand the culture behind the travel experiences which each region offers. Maybe this is what is meant by saying that “travel broadens the mind by
providing food for thought and understanding.” And this is exactly where cultural consumption comes in. There’s enormous demand for “understanding” in
tourism, I think, and cultural consumption is the soul of tourism.
21. 1> The Popularization of Highbrow
Chinese consumer spending on highbrow cultural activities has been rising steadily. This phenomenon is not confined to the large
cities, as expenditure on cultural and artistic enjoyment is also going up in tier 3 and tier 4 cities. The trend towards spending on
arts and culture is definitely a nationwide upswing.
Leisure activities in the past year——T1/T2 Leisure activities in the past year——T3/T4
% Go to the cinema Go to the concerts Go to the theatre Go to the cinema Go to the concerts Go to the theatre
%
33
35 32 35
29 28
30 30 26
25 24
25 22 25 21 22
19 18
20 20 16 20
19 19 14
16 17
15 15 12
13 14 13 14
12 11 11 11
10 9 10
8
5 5
0 0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Since the end of 2011, Shanghai Grand Theatre has made the third Sunday of
every month a discounted ticket day. The performances included in this
scheme are diverse and cover many genres. The two rounds of discounted
tickets for sale at the beginning of 2012 had seen long queues of people
wanting to buy. This scheme works in a virtuous circle. Public enthusiasm for
the arts led to the creation of this scheme, and the offer of discounted tickets
is bound to result in an increase in public participation, boosting enthusiasm
for the arts to a higher level.
Data source: CMMS2008Spring~CMMS2012Sring
22. 2> Be a Happy Foodie
Nowadays, the first reaction to a plate of delicious food is
not to quickly put chopsticks to food, but to pull out the
camera and take a scrumptious picture of the food and post
it to weibo. This Chinese foodie culture has amazed foreign
tourists so much, that some have even put out photo
assembles of this photo-taking, weibo-posting behavior.
With the foodie trend comes foodie culture. ‘How to
become a foodie’ seems to have become a compulsory
course for the trendy Chinese consumers. This map of
China in the eyes of foodies is a great exemplification of
their enthusiasm.
23. 3> The Travel Bug
Microblog Buzz
Number of tweets
The rapid increase in references to "backpackers" and 4,000,000
“tour pals“ on the internet is another major expression of 3,500,000 Backpackers
Chinese consumers’ development of “cultural Tour pals
3,000,000
temperament”. To them, travelling to a destination is as
2,500,000
much about its culture and people as the beautiful scenery.
2,000,000
Travel is a topic that interests Chinese consumers more
and more. On microblogs, there are lots of users following 1,500,000
the corporate accounts of tourism operators and hotels. 1,000,000
500,000
0
Active followers of Top 5 corporate brand 2011 1st half year 2011 2nd half year 2012 1st half year
categories on weibo
50%
Average35%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Data source: CIC social media research database; Sina Weibo & CIC Collaborated Whitepaper - 2012 Corporation Weibo White Paper
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
24. 4> The Artistic Types
% Household ownership of SLR camera
The artistic types like to record their life in a more
16
cultured way. They carry their single-lens reflex
(SLR) camera with them wherever they go and 14 14
they take pictures whenever they feel the urge.
12
Household ownership of SLR camera has gone 11
from 10% in 2010 to 14% in 2012, reflecting the 10 10
growing pursuit of photography and artistic 8
expressions.
6
The proliferation of photo sharing platforms also
encourages the growth of these temperaments. 4
Being “artistic” is a badge that many consumers 2
want to slap on.
0
2010 2011 2012
Other examples can be found in
tourism. Guesthouses with heavy
doses of local color, cafes where the
decor is themed and filled with
memorabilia, little shops selling
curios……such are responses from
marketers to consumers’ craving for
the cultural and artistic.
Data source: CMMS2010Spring~CMMS2012Sring
25. 4
Spending
on the Young
With the advance of the digital and information age, younger consumer groups are eager
to participate in the consumption of ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
products. The younger generation is using ICT products originally aimed for an adult
audience at an early age. They are now one of the most eager and motivated segment of
the market to try out new digital products. Furthermore, as a result of the single child
policy, parents spare no expenses when it comes to their child. Hence substantial
spending on the child is happening at an earlier age.
26. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ boss of the fish (Guangxi): These are Panda’s handbag and fanny pack, childhood edition. She is mad about them. Maybe this is the childhood experience that will
start her on a life of luxury consumption. Uh-oh! My bad! 。
@ DREAMXUXU (Nanjing, Jiangsu): A colleague told me today that most kids are using iPhones. Shock-horror! I’m waiting for iPhone5. If I buy myself one, won’t that
make me younger? lol.
@ Listening to my heart in serenity (Beijing ): I’m just done with the arrangements for my kid’s National Day holiday. On September 30th he’ll go to his cousin’s
wedding. That evening he’ll start his extra curricular classes, which run for 6 half days in all(3380 yuan).I’ve also fixed up 2 language classes at home with a tutor (800
yuan per session). For the remaining 4 days he will stay at home to revise for the monthly exam. 8 days’ holiday, and he won’t have a moment to relax. I honestly don’t
know whether it’s me that’s crazy or the education in China that’s sick!
27. More and more young people are using adult products
Mobile Phone Ownership
%
Total 15-19y.o.
92 96
100 88
80 83 91
85
80 78
71
66
60
40
20
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Go to the cinema in the past year
%
100 Total 15-19y.o. Over the past five years, mobile phone ownership of
youths aged 15 – 19 years old has been growing
80
annually. It was at 66% in 2008, and sharply increased
60 48 to reach 91% in 2012.
42 45
39 38 Various recreational activities have also found their
40
32 way into young people’s lives. With movies, for
29
22 25 example, the proportion of younger viewers has been
20 19
growing year on year.
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Data source: CMMS2008Spring~CMMS2012Sring
28. 1> The “Kids Too” Trend
1>
Under the influence of Apple’s powerful promotions, more and more children have
been bitten by the Apple bug. These high-tech “toys” not only satisfy children’s
curiosity but can also be used to download a wide range of educational software.
This lowering in the age of users of ICT products has opened up lots of new market
opportunities.
Cloud Classroom
The “Cloud Classroom” is the trendy student iPads are loaded with the
name for an attempt to transform appropriate educational software, and
teaching and learning by using the latest downloading is restricted. Whether it’s
IT. This experiment started in 2012 at for students doing exercises and handing
Luwan No. 1 Central Primary School in them in, or for teachers preparing
Shanghai. Currently, grade four students lessons and marking homework, life is
are experiencing the new teaching made much easier with the support of
method in 3 disciplines: Mathematics, iPads.
English and Science. With the development of science and
According to Principal Wu Rongjin, the technology, multimedia interactive
“Cloud Classroom” trial is so far limited classroom teaching has been around for
to these three subjects in grade four. some time. However, the “Cloud
The classes take turns to follow the Classroom” marks the emergence of a
program for 1-2 periods every week. The new teaching approach. It also suggests
35 iPads they use were all purchased by that electronic products are due to play
the school. an increasingly important role in primary
The software and materials were and secondary education. The trend
developed by a professional company in towards younger consumption of
conjunction with the teachers. The products will be given an extra push.
29. 2> Parent and Child Together
The big thing about cartoons for kids is that they are meant to be watched by the parents and child together. When a new movie is
launched, the cinema chains encourage parents to watch with their children, and create movie packages and activities accordingly.
The result is that a large part of the box office and movie-related spending come from parents. Furthermore, more and more
parents are willing to spend on trendy clothes for their child. In response, marketers provide premium clothes selection and
pleasant retail experience, so that parents can enjoy shopping for their kid.
For the past four years, the Chinese New Year film
schedule has included the children’s favorite
Pleasant Goat. In 2012, Pleasant Goat 4 broke the
box office record with a gross of 180 million RMB,
overtaking previous records set by versions 1, 2, and
3. It established itself as one of the most successful
Chinese animation movies of all times.
30. 3> High Spending on Education
Chinese parents attach great importance to their children's education.
This is exemplified by the rapid yearly increase in spending on
cultural education. Chinese parents are increasingly willing to start
training their children at a young age, giving them a head start.
Therefore, to say that consumption is getting younger not only refers
to the use of adult products at a younger age, but also refers to
consumption of education at a younger age.
The results of the CCTV 2011-2012 Survey of Economic Life showed
that the proportion of total household expenditure going into
children’s education had been increasing year by year (41% in 2009,
42% in 2010, 46% in 2011). Many parents admit that with the
emergence of all kinds of pre-school classes, hobby classes and
tutorial classes, children's education expenses have come to
dominate the family budget. More and more parents send their
children abroad for university or high school, and some three-year-
olds even go abroad for kindergarten.
Data source: Survey of Economic Life, 2011-2012, CCTV
31. 5 Singles
Spectacular
As the proportion of single men and women in society increases, consumption
opportunities customized for this segment of consumers have emerged. Singles are not
burdened with family responsibilities, and they want to enjoy life. They know how to live
in the present, and they are willing to open their wallets for immediate consumption.
There is enormous consumption opportunity and potential here.
32. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ Dragonfly 0112 (Shanghai): Three bored singles have formed a club to feast for three days on end. Right now, I am at Song’s Spicy Crab (Yanan West Road).
@ Little apple (Changsha, Hunan): Tomorrow I’m definitely singing Karaoke and going shopping to make myself happy. I’m going to have a better Valentine’s
Day as a single than people who are paired up. Otherwise I’ll really lose out. After all my future husband will be spending his money and buying flowers to give to
another woman, while I’ll be moping away alone. So I must spend now, and he can pick up the tab later.
@ 2012, dust settled down (Yantai, Shandong): ONLY (note: a brand name). At that moment my heart went pit-a-pat. A bit of judicious over-spending to give
myself a treat is surely one of the advantages of being single.
33. The number of single people in China has grown steadily. The “singles culture" and
"singles effect" resulting from this growth have attracted a lot of attention and
provoked a lot of discussion on microblogs.
Microblog Buzz on “Singles”
Number of tweets
80,000,000
60,000,000
40,000,000
20,000,000
And singles spend more on certain categories.
0
2011 1st half year 2011 2nd half year 2012 1st half year For example, single people actually go to the
cinema more often. Their cinema occasions
Average monthly expenses on leisure activities can be with a date, with friends or on his/her
RMB
own.
300 Total The singles 280
250 229
201 203 241
200 208
154 179 182
150 149
100
50
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Data source: CMMS2008Spring~CMMS2012Spring , CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
34. 1> Products for Singles
Rice cooker for one Tour package for singles tourist Game for one
Singles tend not to go to traditional supermarkets, but instead frequent convenient stores
near where they live. Since they generally cook for one, convenient stores provide lots of
food packaged in quantities suitable for one person. Products and services specifically
designed for singles are also coming into the market.
Coffee maker for one
35. 2> Singles’ Day
Just as couples have Valentine’s Day and Chinese Valentine’s Day, singles have their own Singles’ Day (11.11). In recent years
enthusiasm for Single’s Day has increased dramatically, and many marketers have begun to promote consumption opportunities
for the occasion.
Number of tweets
Online Buzz of “Singles‘ Day” Number of news
1,600,000 Microblog discussion Media discussion 20000
1,400,000 18000
16000
1,200,000
14000
1,000,000 12000
800,000 10000
600,000 8000
6000
400,000
4000
200,000 2000
0 0
2010.11.11 2011.11.11
On Singles’ Day in 2011, Taobao.com launched a Singles’ Day
carnival. This day, with the date of 11-11-11, was the Singles’ Day
of the century, and Taobao’s blitz marketing offer of free delivery
and 50% discounts on many famous brands drew in a large
number of netizens. The turnover that day reached 960 million
RMB, bringing in big profits for Taobao and catapulting the event
to the status of a marketing legend.
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
36. 3> How to Make New Friends –WeChat and Momo
Texts Messages Audio Messages Shake Photos & Videos
What is the best way for singles to make new friends in “Shake” to find other users who are shaking their phones at
this day and age? the same time, creating opportunities for social interaction.
The WeChat and Momo apps are the answers. WeChat was “Look around” is a perfect combination of LBS (location
launched in January 2011, and by November the number of based service) and socializing with other people, making it
users topped 50 million. At the end of March 2012, the 100 easier for singles to look for friends.
million user count was breached. The app functions are constantly being updated: pictures,
The rise of these apps for making friends is a reflection of voice and video sharing all provide a better platform to meet
Chinese consumers’ needs to expand their social circles. the social communication needs of singles.
37. 6 Charity is
the new fashion
Today, a person's social status is not only based on wealth and reputation. It is closely bound up with
how actively the person engages in charitable and socially responsible activities. In addition to
charitable acts and donations, people can now consume, or participate in activities organized by
marketers, to practice charity. For example, they can participate in microblog charities, which allow
them to “donate while purchasing” or “donate while forwarding (microblog).” Consumers who get
involved not only enjoy the thrill of consumption, but also contribute something to society. At the
same time, they boost their public image.
38. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ Gone with the wind (Beijing): I bought this set of ‘free lunch’ charity postcards online at http://t.cn/zW8Mcex. The thought that dozens of children are guaranteed
one more lunch. Should have made me good, but it did not. Mothers who are fond of online shopping, give them a bit of your love too. When I get the cards I’ll send
them out to my close friends and get them all to join in. I have met Mr. Deng Fei twice. He’s the kind of charity and media person you can rely on. @free
lunch@dengfei come on, keep going!
@ Panda’s Eyes (Chongqing): This recycling for charity is great! If all dormitories or even all families did the same, environmental protection in China would get a big
boost. So keep your rubbish, guys. As Bill Gates said, it isn’t that people don’t care, they just don’t know what to do. Charity workers show them the way. I hope that
when I am old I can do that kind of thing too.
@ North pole funfun (Foshan, Guangdong): On doing charity work: I’ve found that micro charity is a pretty good way. People in genuine difficulty can get help and
hope there, and people who care can get information or find channels for charity action. I think of Madam Huang Han’s lesson and her message that there’s really
nothing complicated about doing good. People with time can give time (by volunteering, for instance), people with money can give a bit of money (such as a donation).
If you’re shopping at a roadside stall you can buy without bargaining. For them, life is not easy.
39. Words such as ‘charity’, ‘social responsibility’ and ‘volunteer’ are becoming more firmly
established in Chinese consumers’ consciousness. More and more consumers are prepared
to spend their free time serving others rather than working for money. Social responsibility
is becoming more important to consumers.
% In my spare time, I would rather do something of value for society than to make more money
50
49
48 48
46
45 45
44
42 42
40
38
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Data source: CMMS2008Spring~CMMS2012Sring
40. 1> Microblog Charity
With the rise of microblog, more and more marketers and
promotions are using this platform for charity. Phrases like
“donate while you forward (your microblog)” and “donate by
buying” keep cropping up. These activities not only make
brands more popular and build up their socially responsible
image, but also raise public awareness towards minorities in
society who are in urgent need of help.
New media play an indispensable role in publicizing and
broadening support for activities like these. Because
information on microblogs are often amplified by
microbloggers and spread fast, it is the perfect tool for those
who are interested to get involved in charitable work in any
“micro” way they can.
41. 2> An Egg’s Long Trek
An egg’s long trek is jointly organized by MSN China and Shanghai United Foundation. It is now in its second year. With a simple
activity such as trekking and collecting sponsorship money, white collar workers from Shanghai raised 2.14 million RMB for poor
children in mountain areas.
Online Buzz of “An egg’s long trek”
Microblog discussion Media discussion
Number of tweets Number of news
2,000,000 800
1,800,000 700
1,600,000
600
1,400,000
1,200,000 500
1,000,000 400
800,000 300
600,000
200
400,000
200,000 100
0 0
Y2011 autumn(9.12-10.31) Y2012 spring(3.12-4.30)
From Autumn 2011 to Spring 2012, the number of
In addition to its innovative way of asking people to
participants involved almost doubled:
sponsor the participants, it has also been transparent.
In autumn 2011, there were 122 teams and nearly one
While incidents such as Guo Mei Mei has disillusioned
thousand registered participants;
Chinese consumers as to where their donation has gone
In spring 2012, there were 208 teams and more than two
to, this event has been transparent on the internet and
thousand joined the trek.
easy for the public to monitor.
Apart from the increase in participants, netizen discussions
also surged.
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Microblog discussion = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
42. 3> The “Earth Hour” Phenomenon
“Earth Hour”, started by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007, is a
global charity event aimed at saving energy. 2012 was the 6th
time the call to observe Earth Hour was issued. In recent years,
the Chinese have become more and more enthusiastic about
joining in, and brands launched activities with an Earth Hour
theme accordingly.
Online Buzz of “Earth Hour”
Number of tweets Number of news
Microblog discussion Participation in Earth Hour
1,400,000 4,000
Media discussion
3,500 160 Number of Countries 147
1,200,000
Number of China's cities 134
140
3,000 125 124
1,000,000
120
2,500
800,000 100 88 86
2,000
80
600,000
1,500 60
400,000 35
1,000 40 33
200,000 500 20 12
0
0 0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
2011 2012
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
43. 7 Emotional
Consumption
Consumers have yearnings for emotional affinity. Some products offer a modern core in
retro form, so that consumers can enjoy a feeling nostalgia while they use them. Others
focus on additional services that improve their emotional index, so that consumers’
emotional needs are met in the process of consumption.
44. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ Steady waves in the overwhelming sea (Beijing): When I went to the shops today the handbag that I bought last year was recognized by the shop assistant and given
VIP treatment, which gave me a good feeling. A brand not only makes customers look good, it also makes them feel good. I will go on supporting this brand. HK~MZ.
@ aaaaaaCat (Foshan, Guangdong): We 2 kids celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival in advance. Thanks to father for bringing us home. I listened to old songs broadcast at
midnight. I enjoyed the breeze and relived vague memories, which made me feel good. Anyway, happy Mid-Autumn Day, and Happy Birthday to my grandmother.
@ Lituo v (Dalian, Liaoning): Recently, I’ve seen on sale a whole lot of snacks and drinks that were featured in the childhood of the post-80s, such as Bawangsi Pop, Big
Crab Crackers Chips, and the one in the picture. Anyone ever drank that before? Now that the post-80s have become the mainstream of consumption, perhaps they are
staging a nostalgia counterattack.
45. 1> Nostalgia
‘Educated Youth’ canteen, post-80 restaurant and post-70 canteen are not just your average
restaurant. Consumers are drawn to them by the sense of nostalgia they evoke. Consumers there
are consuming memories. When you are put in such an environment, whether you have
experienced those days or not, you will feel a wave of nostalgia sweeping over you.
46. • In 2012, the hardest thing to get hold of might be a ticket for Noah's Ark, but a ticket for Titanic in 3D was up there too.
Even before the film was screened, a wave of nostalgia swept the country. Questions like “Who did you watch Titanic
with ten years ago?” took people back and prompted them to return to the cinema to relive their past experience. The
movie grossed 460 million RMB in the first week of screening, and the total box office reached 960+ million RMB. With
its capacity to bring back memories, emotional affinity was layered on top of its original attraction and charm.
• Many other films which play heavily on nostalgia have flooded the Chinese market in recent years: “Uproar in Heaven”,
“The Smurfs” and “Dirty King”, to name just a few, have all pulled big audiences.
47. 2> Retro is the New Fashion
“Retro” and “Nostalgia” Microblog Buzz
Number of tweets
25,000,000
Retro
20,000,000 Nostalgia
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
0
2011 1st half year 2011 2nd half year 2012 1st half year
Retro is the new fashion, in which consumers find deep emotional
resonance. The Warrior Shoes which were all the rage in the sixties and
seventies have penetrated into the fashion world at home and abroad.
Products like scribbled Warrior Shoes and sailor's stripe shirts combine
retro and modern elements into a new fashion that lets people time travel
between the two eras.
In the past few years, discussions centered on the two keywords of “retro"
and "nostalgia" on Sina and Tencent microblogs have seen continuous
growth, and they sky-rocketed in 2012. Tweets on “retro” in particular
grew from 2,784,040 to 22,588,671, a tenfold increase.
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
48. 3> 360° Service
During the 2012 Spring Festival, KFC takeaway delivery
boys became a heated topic online. A netizen had a
sudden whim that she wanted an order to be delivered by
a ‘handsome simpleton’, and amazingly the wish was
fulfilled. Other netizens quickly followed suit and even
posted delivery stories and photos of themselves with the
Microbloggers forwarded the
delivery boys. This all attracted a lot of interest.
message like crazy
Judging by the amount of ‘sharing’ and the number of
Sina Weibo posts, more than a handful of consumers took
part in this craze. The fact that a simple thing like food
delivery could become a hot topic during the Spring
Festival shows that in this society where the tertiary
sector is exploding, products alone cannot attract
consumers anymore. If brands want to attract awareness
and build preference, 360° service is the winning card.
Number of tweets Microblog Buzz on “KFC Delivery Boy”
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Data source: CIC social media research database
49. 8 Craze
Gray Hair
According to the results of the 6th National census, 13.26% of Chinese are 60 years old
and above, and 8.87% are 65 and above. These represent respective increases of 2.93%
and 1.91% since the last census. The degree of aging in our society is far above the world
average. And seniors in China today no longer save every penny like the older generations
of the past. They have plans and new ideas for the golden years of their lives, and are
willing to spend more money on pleasure and a high-quality retirement.
50. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ Divine grace, cloud adrift with the breeze (Shanghai): During the National Day holiday my dad went to watch the tidal bore in Qiantang River. Last week he
went off again to do some sightseeing at Tai’an in Shandong, and just got home this evening. These past few years he has become addicted to tourism, and he
makes several trips a year, long or short. I am quite envious of such a retirement. 。
@ Mr. W_L (Suzhou, Jiangsu): Yesterday my dad asked for permission to buy an iPhone, like a kid, but my mom said no. So I simply gave him my iPhone 4S. If the
4S is on sale everywhere, can the iPhone 5 be far behind?
@ Simida L (Nanjing, Jiangsu): My dad is young at heart. Today on a sudden impulse he charged off cross country not in a car but on a bicycle! 6 hours, 6 long
hours, crossing our local section of the vast and barren Gobi Desert. Dad, you are quite my idol and you have my infinite adoration! In contrast, how is it that I in my
twenties live like an old man?
51. The average income for the 55-64 cohort has been on the rise. This means that the disposable
income of this elderly group is increasing, and their spending power should not be under-
estimated.
Average personal monthly pre-tax income
RMB Total 55-64y.o.
3,172
2,754
2,274 2,292
2,105
1,953
1,803 1,693
1,502
1,300
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Data source: CMMS2008Spring~CMMS2012Sring
52. The proportion of middle-aged and elderly people who go travelling has increased in the past few years. Just in
the last two years, the proportion of people aged 55 to 64 years old who travelled within their home province
grew by 7%,those who travelled outside the province grew by 18%, and those taking tours to Hong
Kong/Macau/Taiwan grew by 10%. There has also been a rise in the mobile phone ownership, participation in
recreational activities and preference for sports and leisure apparel for this segment of consumers.
Mobile phone ownership Had trips in the past year (people 55-64y.o.)
% %
Total 55-64y.o.
In the province
100 Out of the province
92 96 100
88 Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
80 80 83 83
70 80 65
64 58 57
60
55 60
46 64
40 40 57
46
20 20 18
17
8
0 0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012
% %
Went to KTV in the past year Bought casual/sports clothes in the past year
100 100
Total 55-64y.o. Total 55-64y.o.
80 80
60 60 57
52 55 53 54
50 48
42 43 45
40 40
29
25 23 24
20 21 20 19
16 16
12 12
0 0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Data source: CMMS2008Spring~CMMS2012Sring
53. 1> Products for the Elderly
Regular household items such as a
magnifying glass, an alarm clock etc., can
easily meet the needs of elderly consumers.
They make life easier for the individual and
make their children less anxious about the
wellbeing of their parents’ daily lives.
Nail clipper for elderly people
Multi-function walking
stick for elderly people
Baidu search engine for elderly people
54. 2> Elderly e-shoppers
The latest statistics from Tmall show that more than 1.3 million senior netizens aged over 50 shop online. This means that nearly 4
out of every 100 senior netizens are e-shoppers. Geographically, the “Shanghai Aunties and Uncles” take the lead, with nearly
60,000 more people than Beijing, which is ranked second. Senior netizens buy more clothing than anything else, especially
women’s clothes. In the past year, they bought 8.59 million pieces of female clothing in total.
During the “double holiday” of Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, tmall.com
released the video “My Father” on its official microblog. This micro-movie called
on the young to remember how their fathers taught them how to ride a bicycle
when they were young, and encouraged them to respond in kind during the
holidays by teaching their fathers how to shop online.
55. 3> Happy Backpackers
The elderly are enjoying and experiencing life just as much as any other age groups.
Some of them are now into backpacking.
Zhang Guangzhu and Wang ZhongJin are Beijingnese and they are
famous on the internet for their global tour around 7 continents and
40+ countries. As they travel, they update their journey real time on
their blog. For them, the most beautiful scenery is people. They also
believe that when one is in a foreign country, being on a bus, visiting
the wet market, having a chat with the local people, seeing how they
live are all very interesting. Their blissful golden years are now the
dreams of many young people.
Prior to the 2012 Olympic Games, Youku and Yili aired a series of
micro-movies about the Olympic journeys of common Chinese
people. “Happy Backpackers”was one of them, inspiring consumers
to understand that all can live a fulfilling life.
56. Super
9
3rd Party
Do you have any wishes which you cannot achieve alone? Look for a solution from a
super 3rd party. This emerging “go-between” economy is where an intermediary steps in
and bridges the gap of what needs to be done, but NOT by the consumer concerned. The
existence of a 3rd party doing the go-between makes it possible for consumers to achieve
things which were unachievable before in a most efficient way.
57. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ delighted youth-Coach (Ha’erbin, Heilongjiang): O almighty Weibo, pray tell me, who can purchase for me MONCHHICHI necklaces and bracelets?
@ yz__helen (Zhejiang, Hangzhou): My daughter needs to apply to Top 30 universities in the US in the second half of this year. Should I look for an agent in
Hangzhou, or are the services of agents in BJ/SH/GZ better? Anyone with knowledge or prior experience kindly give me some tips?
@ raawaa (Shanghai): A former classmate invited me to act as his best man. A one-stop wedding company really saves the couple from many worries. I just
had to do what I was told like a zombie chicken. Two of us had to learn how to handle the ceremonial fire-crackers. There were four salvoes altogether. Two
white ones had to go off when the bride left her family, and two red ones when she got out of the car at her new home (outdoors). So I showed up at the
bridegroom’s house rather early. First I found the fire-crackers and the instructions, and in the car I made a careful study of what to do.
58. 1> The Purchasing Agent Fever
From luxury products to original
According to monitoring figures from the
versions of electronic items, to
China Electronic Commerce Research Center,
the other extreme of daily
the market turnover of overseas purchasing
necessities like milk powder and
agencies reached 25 billion RMB in 2011, a
eye-drops, anything you need
that cannot be obtained easily in 140% increase from 2010. Exponential
the domestic market, can now be growth is expected to continue in 2012,
bought with the aid of purchasing bringing a turnover of 30 billion RMB.
agent.
Due to their good prices and their There are now purchasing agent websites that are
ability to supply products designed to help overseas Chinese buy goods
consumers want, purchasing offered on Mainland Chinese websites and to
agents have become an assist in shipping them to the countries where the
indispensable part of people’s purchasers live. Compared with the high prices of
lives. As a result, all kinds of many overseas products, Chinese products have a
purchasing agent websites have price advantage. These purchasing agents are
sprung up. likely to flourish.
Data source: China Electronic Commerce Research Center
59. “Purchasing Agent” becomes a hot phrase online
As the internet and communication tools develop, more and more Chinese
consumers are ready to give purchasing agents a try. Both the media and
Sina and Tencent microblog posts are discussing “purchasing agencies”, and
the number of mentions grew dramatically between 2011 and 2012.
Online Buzz of “Purchasing Agent”
Number of tweets Number of news
Microblog discussion Media discussion
18,000,000 80,000
16,000,000 70,000
14,000,000 60,000
12,000,000
50,000
10,000,000
40,000
8,000,000
30,000
6,000,000
4,000,000 20,000
2,000,000 10,000
0 0
2011 1st half year 2011 2nd half year 2012 1st half year
Data source: CIC social media research database
Note: Number of tweets = Total number of related tweets from Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo
60. 2> The Carpooling Lifestyle
With more and more consumers into carpooling,
websites providing such services emerged. In the past,
consumers carpooled via BBS and QQ. With the
emergence of carpooling websites, such as
www.pinker365.com, consumers can post carpool
offers, ask for information, and make carpooling
arrangements etc.
In order to offer convenience to consumers, both
iPhone and Android APPs went online at the same
time as the website. This shows a deep
understanding of consumers and a dedication to
provide great service to its customers.
61. 3> Happy Farm
Now you can experience the joy of harvest even if you are not
a farmer. The Happy Farm in the physical world brings a
happiness that you cannot get in the virtual world.
Happy Farm lets you rent a piece of farmland to grow your
favorite vegetables and fruits in the suburbs. When you are
free you can take care of the land yourself, but if you are busy
you can ask the farm manager and his team to step in. When
crops are ready you can enjoy the experience of harvesting
yourself, or you can ask the farm to harvest for you and
deliver the produce to your door. And the great thing is that
you can go online any time to watch vegetables being
planted or to check how things are getting on.
62. 10 Crossover
Economy
“Crossover” has become a popular word in all sectors of society. Look around and you will
see “crossover” elements everywhere: the integration of online and offline, celebrities
joining forces with stars from other disciplines, the merging of two-dimensional and
three-dimensional space…… Numerous instances of unexpected integration and
cooperation, pleasantly surprising consumers.
63. Consumer Voices on Social Media
@ black bean ykk (Beijing): You’re right! With Weibo, it is possible to travel between past, present and future and to get together online or offline. It is good and
meaningful !
@ movement of the sea (Chongqing): Today, I had a classic online-to-offline experience. Wanting to buy a camping tent, I searched Chongqing local and Tmall. After
looking at photos on line and contacting sellers, in the afternoon I checked out a tent offline and bought it. The good experiences were: 1. Authenticity: I didn’t buy until I
knew that the item and price were right. 2. Convenience: I got it at a shop close to my home. 3. Price: I got it offline for an online price. Still to be decided is whether online
payment or offline payment is better.
@ Zhu Hanyin (Dongguang, Guandong): Many shows on the Spring Festival Gala this year mentioned “crossover”. Isn’t this the same as “mixing” in design and “cross-
platform integration” in commerce? This year of 2012 is a year for giving “crossover” full play !
64. 1> Star Links and Star Groups
Star Links and Star Groups
Stars and celebrities do not just do a crossover. They build close personal relationships with
each other and form groups. When the groups become known and are recognized by fans
throughout the microblog world, they actually manage to extend their influence to more
consumers than when they act alone.
The “Love Life” Charity Project
“Love Life” is a charity launched by Taiwanese presenter Blackie Chen Jianzhou in 2009 to
care for sick children. Blackie Chen has attracted celebrities from music, drama,
entertainment, sports and fashion to join in. With all these celebrities promoting the same
cause together, Love Life managed to garner lots of responses from the public.
Calendar:
2009 – Love Life T-shirt
2010 – 26 celebrities joined forces in a Love Life charity advertisement
2011 – Promoted Love Life in Mainland China and release MV and brand character
2012 – Live broadcast of Love Life video on tudou.com
65. 2> No walls between 2D and 3D
The 2D world and the 3D world are terms used by manga fans to distinguish between the two-dimensional world of anime, comics
and games (ACG) and the physical world which we inhabit. However these two worlds are not walled off from each other. When
celebrities and cute & cuddly creatures from 2D collide with real-world 3D products, the results not only satisfy 2D fans but also
relieve modern fatigue.
Cute and Cuddly Advertising
The picture above shows a Ford ad. It
is the story of a baby bear which is
lost by its careless owner. However, it
finds its way back and brought with it
the car key. The image is so cute and
adorable that consumers cannot help
but feel good about the brand.
67. INTEGRATION OF ONLINE AND OFFLINE
Consumers tailor their usage of In many of the trends documented in The challenge is to integrate them
online and offline media and this report, there are numerous cases by playing up the strengths of each
platforms based on their information of integration between online and online/offline media or platform. For
or entertainment needs, accessibility offline. “Go micro” uses online example, offline brick ‘n mortar
and convenience in terms of time and media and channels to facilitate stores can be used to create
location. Online and offline offline consumption; WeChat and memorable brand experiences while
touchpoints should be seamlessly MOMO in “spectacular singles” use social media can be deployed to
merged in a single communication digital technology to allow people to facilitate information finding,
model. The key is to drive traffic better communicate with each other. discussion amongst friends, and “shai”
from online to offline and vice versa There are also examples in “charity is (show and tell) .
as consumers move along the the new fashion”, “crossover
purchase pathway. economy” and “super 3rd party.”
68. MOBILE STRATEGY
Being the most intimate of screens, Mobile strategy can be integrated
it is with consumers on a 24/7 basis. into the e-commerce and/or
It is the most convenient communication plan via the use of
communication tool for consumers gamification, augmented reality,
to “shai” and to share their feelings social couponing and
after an “emotional consumption” or mapping/geospatial technologies etc.
“crossover consumption” experience.
“Go micro,” on the other hand, relies
heavily on a strong mobile strategy
to capture the immediacy of each
and every micro-purchase. And the
mobile phone is the key means for
“spectacular singles” to lead a
fulfilling life.
69. BE TRUSTWORTHY
Trust is the foundation of social and Brands can promote their reputation For brands with e-commerce,
business life. Trust in a brand gives for trustworthiness through social online trust is even more
consumers the ability to take risks media platforms and word of mouth important. Good reviews and
with greater confidence. It is the ‘gut channels. They should also recommendations from friends
feel’ for the right decision that constantly monitor what is being said and fan communities serve to
consumers are looking for. As can be about them on the internet so that alleviate some of the distrust.
seen from the trend of “pay for they can move in quickly to amplify a However, there are multiple facets
safety”, there seems to be a trust relevant discussion or to come up of consumer trust online, such as
deficit in China. Consumers are with countermeasures when product quality, internet safety,
taking a skeptical view of brands, negative publicity arises. efficiency, return policy, warranty
what with shoddy workmanship, etc. Success for any e-commerce
unsafe practices, quality problems, player in China involves tackling
food safety issues etc. Hence it is the various components affecting
important for brands to gain trust along every step of the
consumers’ trust in order to succeed. purchase pathway.
70. GAMIFICATION
Gamification (game-based learning “Charity is the new fashion” and “go With “spending on the young” and
and simulation) is a wildcard which micro” work on the basis of “many “gray hair craze”, the segments of
lends fun and excitement to anything feather makes a bed.” They both younger and elderly consumers at
that it is associated with. Deploying have to find a way to scale their opposite ends of the age spectrum
games in brand communication, or efforts. Building in a gamification are extending their consumption into
building game mechanics into the system is a good way to keep a myriad of products and services.
purchasing process to move consumers coming back and There is more for them to learn
consumers along the purchase participating more, hence building up about what is available and how best
pathway, are great ways for brands scale. In addition, framing the social to utilize them. Deploying
to engage with consumers. causes in an “epic” game situation gamification in the learning process
and inviting consumers to solve the is a good way to improve the learning
problem is a sure way to help new experience and help brands gain
causes gain traction and give old affinity and relevance with
causes new life. consumers.
71. SOCIAL COMMERCE
Social commerce refers to the use of As for “charity is the new fashion”,
social media strategies to anticipate, “emotional consumption” and
personalize and energize the “super 3rd party”, they all need a
shopping experience. Chinese social platform to allow
consumers are very social along the consumers to “shai.” Brands
purchase pathway. They want should provide such a platform for
confidence in what they buy from them in their official website or
their friends, and insight from their mini-site, so that they can “stick”
community. They are prolific around to experience the brand.
reviewers and readers of online
product reviews. Brands need to
create a platform for their customers
to share and tell, thus enhancing
brand relevance and brand
preference in the process.
72. About MEC
MEC is one of the world’s top media We deliver value by creating, implementing Our 4,000 highly talented and motivated
agencies and employs almost 5,000 people and measuring communication solutions people work with domestic and
in more than 150 offices across 84 that actively engage people with brands. international clients in 84 countries. We are
countries. Our services include: Media planning and a founding partner of GroupM.
buying, Digital, Search, Social, Mobile,
We have a strong and consistent Performance marketing, Analytics and To find out more, visit us at
geographic footprint and a cohesive global Insight, Sport, Entertainment, Cause & www.mecglobal.com
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London, New York, Singapore and Miami. Bravo), Retail and Integrated planning.
MEC manages more international media
assignments than any other network,
coordinated by our Global Solutions teams
through twelve worldwide client hubs.
73. About CIC
CIC is China's leading social business accomplish their social business aims, CIC is succeed in a rapidly evolving media
intelligence provider, enabling enterprise also monetizing the social business industry industry.
to fully leverage the power of social media in China, creating an integrated social
and Internet Word of Mouth (IWOM) business support system (IWOMmaster), CIC will continue to provide social business
intelligence across the organization. Since powered by our proprietary technical intelligence from an objective, third-party
2004, CIC has pioneered IWOMized solutions and platforms. perspective, to the world’s leading brands
technology, research and consulting. and agencies.
Firstly, by coining the term IWOM and then In early 2012, as China’s leading social
being the first to raise the concept of business intelligence provider, CIC agreed To find out more, visit us at
“social business” in China. As the industry to be acquired by WPP’s Kantar Media, the www.ciccorporate.com
thought leader, we have always been at media research and insight division of
the forefront of China’s internet and social Kantar, as a move to strengthen its position
business revolution. CIC is China’s largest and with aim to expand its social offering
integrated 3rd party provider of technical across Asia Pacific. Kantar Media has over
IWOM solutions, social media studies and 5,000 employees around the world, is
social business intelligence. In order to currently working with 22,000 companies,
help companies effectively leverage this tracking 3 million brands across 50 countries.
social business intelligence, CIC As the consumer insight arm of WPP,
provides customized research, consulting Kantar Media provides strategic advice and
services, syndicated reports, and competitive intelligence to the world’s
industry trend watches, rich in actionable leading brands, publishers, agencies and
insight. In addition to helping brands industry bodies, helping them navigate and
74. For more information, please contact:
Theresa Loo Chander Guo
National Director – Strategic Planning, Marketing Director – Corporate Marketing
Analytics & Insight Department
MEC China CIC
29/F, The Center, 989 Changle Rd Shanghai Room 108, Building A, UDC Innovative Plaza,
China 200031 No.125, North Jiangsu Road, Shanghai China
Direct line: +86 21 2307 7790 200042
theresa.loo@mecglobal.com Direct line: +86 21 5237 3860 (8891)
chander.guo@cicdata.com
Project manager: Mandy Wu, Huang Jia
Report write-up: Lynn Liang, Mandy Wu
IWOM & social media research: Vivian Ying, Jackie Jin
Researchers: Mandy Wu, Huang Jia, Lynn Liang, Jane Liu, Stephanie Chai, Cai Jing
Design: Zhang Wei Jie